Interview: Evan Ferstenfeld

Today I present an interview with Evan Ferstenfeld, co-owner of Made With Awesome. It happens to be very awesome timing too, with Evan announcing a number of new designs!

How would you introduce yourself and your art to people who may not familiar with you?

My name is Evan and I am the co-owner of Made With Awesome, a one-stop-shop of t shirts and poster prints that tackles everything from pop culture to the meaning of life. We try to tell a fun full story on each design that might make you think just a little bit while you’re laughing your guts out.

How did you get started designing t-shirts?

I actually started submitting slogans to the online t shirt design contests that Threadless runs back in 2006, found that I enjoyed coming up with designs in my head and started collaborating with as many artists in the community as I could to realize the designs to their fullest potential. I’ve been brainstorming and collaborating ever since.

What inspires your work?

Anything and everything I encounter in life, as well as other artists works in music, film, books, etc. Also from reading various news outlets, and all things 80s aka the best decade of all decades.

Can you give us any insight into your creative process?

Usually I just brainstorm, letting my mind wander until I find something that catches my attention, whether it be a pun, a phrase, an object, or a funny situation. My main focus is to convey a point or idea about life or a situation in life in an interesting way, funny or otherwise.

Which is your favorite design of your own?

That’s a tough one, but I’d have to say Paper Hugs Rock, because its about ending war I. The cutest way possible. It also has a ton of great characters as well as some fun signs and sayings. My goal is always to make a big joke, and pepper that with tiny details that both enhance the main joke and reward people who look at the design for longer than a quick glance.

Which has been your most successful design to-date?

Without a doubt that would be Harry Stardust, when you find a fresh and exciting way to combine two pop cultural icons, good sales usually follow 🙂

Who are some of your favorite artists?

There are SO many artists I get constant inspiration from! In the design world, I would say some of my favorites are Enkel Dika, Brock Davis, Nathan Pyle, Ben Chen, Tiffany Ambrose, David Pester-Creighton, ilovedoodle, Naolito and on and on…

What are some of your interests outside of art?

Wait….there’s things you can do in this world that don’t involve art??? I love photography (my Instagram account is @evanferst), going to concerts, museums, and basically exploring the world, whether it be through a national park or a day in New York City with my fiancée Tina and my two-year-old son.

What are your vices?

I have been known to overindulge in a good time, but that’s only an occasional thing at this stage in my life. Nowadays, it’s staying up way too late working on designs with a Diet Mountain Dew and buffalo wing flavored potato chips at my side. I also enjoy hot peppers and got sauce way more than any human should.

Hypothetical dinner party, you and any two people, dead or alive, who do you choose?

I could choose Schrodinger’s cat who is both dead AND alive…but I’ll go with Tesla and Shigeru Myamoto.

Are you currently working on anything we should keep an eye out for?

I’m always collaborating on ten or more designs at any one time, and we are also debuting several new designs for purchase on Neatoshop.

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Thanks for your time, Evan, can’t wait to see what’s next for Made With Awesome!